Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1887-01-19

NAoOAxs . ANOARh Acoss
Governor Biggs and Reform.
There 10 more real, genuine reform
advocated By Governor Blgss in his In |
ausurA address delivered Tuesday than
osn be found In . halt dozen inaugural
addresses Of his predecessors, and what
ever the Legislature may do either for |
OF against genuine State reform no |
blame can attach 10 Governor Riges
tor not reminding 1t OF its duty and bis |
desires. His declaration that he win
mot re-sppoint any State or county ofli-
DIAL Ii consistent with his previously
declared Intentions before he wAs
elected. No doubt he alludes prinoi-
pslly to county Offices. He qualities
his declaration, however, by saying
that he vill make no re-Appointments
where the nature Of the Chloe and the
pabllc interests do not justify the
same" This qualification 10 no doubt
20 oover the re-sppointments Of faith
'ful Jcsicss OF the Peace and other CHI
oers whsre peculiar ability 10 required.
But our county OH GERS, In view Of the
declarations OF the Governor, may
make up their minds 10 step down and
out Mt the expiration OF . eingle term
of ofase.
The Governor 10 no doubt In full &C.
cord with large majority OF the people
Of the State In his recommendations
for constitutional reform BY means OF
State Constitutional Convention. In
stead Of even oountenancing chsn 20 OF
the constitution by the legislature, he
boldly says that at cannot be changed
In any respect BY the Legislature, which
IL Its creature and wholly subordinate
TO 1t, and any attempt to override IL
would not only be . dangerous but .
pernioioua precedent" The Governor
10 slightly Inconsistent, however, with
his previously expressed declarations,
when In the failure 10 call q State Con.
sututional Convention. he says the
Legislature hiss It In its power and he
thinks tn y should exc ii 1 by pro-
ceeding n change the constitution BY
Legislative enscsments. We can only
account Tor this apparent contradiction
in the anxiety Of Governor Bigss to
have the constitution changed 10 some
manner, and rather than have NO
change he would accept even wha,
seems to him the mos. Objectionable
method.
He is in bold antasonism to the out
going Governor in his strong advocacy
Of district representation. He sees In
district represen tation the true princi.
pies OF . Democra ic represe 10 i've
government, and In this view he IL Ger
tlirly supported by all who do not
want to SEQ the State government run
in partisan grooves.
He has expressed himself decidedly
in favor Of increased representation fol
New Castle County, but how much o.
an increase he favors he does not say
OF one thing though he Is very conf.
dent, that as the constitution gives eacl
county equal representa- on the Legis.
latnre cannot make II unequal. This
he maintains with considerable for:e
oan only be done by a Constitutions
Convention, and such o change HI
earnestly hopes will be made by th,
people.
His declaration In favor OF the cleo
ton OF all the county Office by tn,
people themselves is in keeping with
hts declarations upon the platform be
sore his election. He takes the wis,
eroun1, that cannot be c)ntr1verted
that the people know better who the.
want 70 serve them than Governor re
mote from them can know.
In the line OF s.riot reform also 10 tn
recommendation that county eff GERS
paid stipulated salaries instead of fees
and that the latter be covered into th
respective county treasures
Tao Govavpa 90 alao fallpp N IN TN
notion that primary elections should b
projected from fraud. He pro5sb
forgot that the general elections are 4
badly debsached as the primaries, an
needed protection more than they, or
would have recon- mended that the SAN
strin gent regulations be applied
them.
The State finances moet W! IA an oil
ooursging word from the Governor, bI
he could very appropriately have T
com mended lessening the tax on MAJ,
facsurers and merchants without ipjur
10 the State finances.
A long portion OF the Governors 10
a1gursl 10 devoted to matters pertain
log TO National legislation. Upon Il
tariff and revenue matters be adop
the free trade O. views. In \ 10 /
dnsuces he goes for the Blend dolla
and ne wants as little Civil Service r.
form as possible, that 10 COZ trary to Il
old adage that "to the victors beloI
the spoils."
In State reform matters Governt
Biggs is ahead Of his party, and b
message will be looked upon as an e.
tremely radical document, but 1t is n
more 30 than the exigencies OF the ca
demand. The Governor cannot NAL
the laws OF the State. but he can ex
cut, them, and with his pronounced 1
form views we can only wish his a
ministration the greatest success.
GOVERNOR PATTIsoN's Democrat
Sheriff that he appointed for Ches.
County WAS never confirmed by &
str ,noiv n an Sspata NJ Pen